Toy wagon



Sept- 1. 194 2- B. F. LEBER 2,294,564

' TOY WAGON Fim July 217, 1939 z sheets-epm 1 561ml, 1942. A B. F. LEBER 2,294,564l

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TOY WAGON Filed July 27, 19:69 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I yfy :58 Ary Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY WAGON Benjamin F. Leber, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York This invention pertains to toy vehicles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toy vehicle of substantially increased utility.

It is another object to provide a toy wagon which may be readily assembled in various arrangements to perform different types of services.

It is also an object to provide a toy vehicle with a part which may Vserve interchangeably as a seat member or in another capacity.

It is a, -further object of my invention to provide a toy vehicle'having a built-up wall, portions of which are removable and adapted to be detachably assembled with other portions to provide a seat. l

An additional object is to provide a toy vehicle readily convertible into a, lumber truck, a coaster, a utility truck with or without a seat with or without a back rest, and a covered wagon.

Another object is to provide a vehicle adapted interchangeably to be used as a wheeled wagon or as a sled.

It is also an object to provide a quickly attachable and detachable cover for a toy vehicle. 25 Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.k l is a side elevation of a toy wagon embodying features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation taken as indicated' by the line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation taken as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the front and rear walls cooperating with each other and with opposite side walls of the vehicle to form a seat.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view, partly inv section and partly in elevation, taken substantially as indicated by the line 6,-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View taken sub- 45 stantially as indicated by the line 11 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the body as it appears when covered with a tarpaulin. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the covered body in Fig. 8. l

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation showing a sled shoe mounted in place of a wheel.

Fig. 11-is a fragmentary sectional view'taken as indicated by the line I I-I I in Fig. 10.

A y Referring now more particularly to the draW- 55 ings, the base l5 of the vehicle body may comprise side rails I6 having grooves l1 in which the longitudinal edges of a floor board I9 are received and also having vertical grooves 20 in which vertical end rails 2| are receivedfthe assembly being releasably locked together by suitable means such as tie rods 23 adjacent the forward and rear ends. Each side rail I6 is provided with socket brackets 25 adapted to receive stakes 26 of side wall racks, which may be of any suitable construction, whether slatted as shown or otherwise. Preferably a pair of forward and rear side Wall racks 21 28 is associated with each rail I6, although one or a greater number may be provided as desired. The Wall racks may be identical with or different from each other. Each rack 21, 28 Vhas top and bottom slats 30, the forward wall rack 28 being supplied with an additional slat 3| which affords added strength. The t of the stakes in the sockets is suiilciently loose to enable the stakes to be -readily inserted and removed. vWhen the stakes are fully inserted as shown in Fig. 1,'the bottom of the lower slat of each rack rests on the associated rail and, by virtue of this engagementand the `engagement of the stakes 26 in the associated sockets 25, the Wall racks are held rmly in place. The parts are so arranged that when the racks 21 and 28 associated with each `side rail are properly mounted they are preferably closely adjacent each other as shown at 31 so as to form for practical purposes a continuous Wall extending substantially throughout the length of the side rail.

The front wall rack 40 may comprise slats although it will be appreciated that it may be made in one or any other number of parts. It carries stakes 44 which extend beyond the bottom slat and into U-shaped brackets 41, the bights 48 of the brackets being spaced from the lower ends of the stakes to provide sockets 5B. v Each bracket 41 removably fits in a socket bracket 52 mounted on the front rail 2l of the body, and the` bights 48 ofthe stakes are adapted to rest on the floor board I9 at the same time that the bottom slat rests at 54 on the end rail 2| and the adjacent side rails I6. Thus it is evident that when the front wall rack 40 is positioned as shown in Fig. 3, it is firmly held in place although it may be readily removed and replaced. The upper edge of the top slat is preferably concaved as shown at 56 so that the steering shaft (not shown) may extend backward over the body of the vehicle at a lower elevation for ease in manipulation by the rider.

The rear wall rack 53 may comprise slats as shown, and is reinforced by stakes 26 adapted to fit in socket brackets 25 mounted on the rear rail 2i, as shown in Fig. 4, the bottom slat resting as at E@ on the rear rail 2| and side rails le so as to firmly, though removably, hold the back wall rack in place.

Further in accordance with my invention, the front and back wall racks may be assembled with certain of the other wall racks to provide a readily detachable, yet secure, seat construction. To this end, the wall rack all has marginal bars 65, each having a longitudinal groove 66 adapted to snugly accommodate the tops of the side racks 2 or 28, the latter being selected only by way of example in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. The bars 65 and stakes 44 are disposed on the same side, and the opposite face of the wall rack 40 is smooth to provide a suitable seat as shown at 68 in Fig. 5. When the rack 4l) is thus connected with the racks 28, a rigid structure is formed, the rack eil serving to rigidly brace apart the members 23, which in effect serve as legs in support of the seat 68.

If it is desired to employ a back rest with the seat, the back wall rack 53 serves this purpose admirably. To this end the rack 58 is removed from the rear of the body and its stakes 26 deposited in the sockets 5i? of the brackets 47 associated with the back wall rack lid, which sockets are at such time vertically disposed (Figs. 5 7). The bottom edge 6! of the rack 58 at such time rests on the stakes @t and brackets 47, and thus the rack 58 is securely although detachably held in vertical position to provide support for the back of the child sitting on the seat 68.

To' prevent accidental raising of the seat from the side wall racks 28, the seat rack il carries hooks 7E) which are of such lengths as to be adapted to be sprung into tightly hooked relation with the bottom edges 'il of the top slats of the associated wall racks 28. Obviously the seat may be located anywhere longitudinally of the body. When all of the racks are attached to serve as walls, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 8, a tarpaulin 8i) may be employed to provide a protective enclosure for the body.

The tarpaulin 853 is preferably waterproof fabric of such size as to cover the walls as Well as the top of the vehicle body, and preferably has each center side socket and the shank 26 fitted V therein (Fig. 8). Other eyelets 83 are so located that when the tarpaulin is folded at the ends of the vehicle said eyelets are adjacent each other so that they may be tied with the desired tension by the string 8A or other suitable means.

When the rails and wall are omitted, the wagon may serve as a lumber truck since it then has nothing but a fiat bottom or floor. This condition may be somewhat modified by the addition of the side rails. When all of the rails are added, it serves as a conventional coaster wagon. When all the racks are used as walls, it functions as a conventional utility wagon. When one or more of the wall racks are used to afford a seat, the device serves as a limited utility wagon. The seat may be located in such relation to the front of the wagon that the rider may find it convenient to rest his feet on the front rail. Obviously the seat may be arranged to permit the rider to face rearward or forward, as he may desire. It is thus apparent that I have provided a wagon construction which is readily convertible to a great many uses, each assembly requiring but a few moments.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a toy wagon which is capable of ready assembly and disassembly, and may be assembled with different parts for a variety of types of service, certain of said parts being capable of alternative functions whereby to provide under certain circumstances wall construction and other circumstances seat construction, all of the parts being securely maintained in place regardless of the number of parts used at any one time Without the need of additional fastening means.

The construction is obviously extremely simple embodying few parts which may be constructed easily and at low cost. The rails and racks are preferably made of wood although other suitable materials may be employed. The brackets may be easily fabricated from sheet metal or the like and the hooks and tie rods may be conventional.

In accordance with another feature of my invention the wagon is adapted to be supported interchangeably on wheels or sled runners. To this end each wheel si) is preferably of an axial length to fit any of the stubs Si of the axles 92, mounted as by means of brackets .'53, a bushing @Il being preferably secured in the wheel and rotatively fitting the stub between the abutment 93 and any suitable means such as a Cotter pin 95 engaged with a washer S6. If desired, a hub cap 52'! may be detachably aiixed to the wheel. Each wheel may be replaced by a sled shoe ISE! having fixed thereto a bushing li'ii like the bushing 94 and retained by the cotter pin Q5. If desired, a hub cap could be applied to each shoe.

Each shoe I9@ may comprise a wooden or other support member or body M2 of generally elliptical or other suitable shape, said member having a groove |93 extending along the ends and bottom of the shoe. Fitted in the groove is a steel or other suitable runner i963 return bent at its ends |95 so as to be securely locked in a tongueand-groove relation with the body HD2. The shoe curves upward at its forward end IE6 and preferably has its center of gravity located slightly forward of the axle when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l0, so that its forward end |35 tends to hang down, substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1l, and thus afford proper contact with the irregular surfaces. A tie bar IQ? connects the forward ends IBG of each pair of shoes so that the front pair acts as a unit and the rear pair acts as a, unit, each pair being freely turnable on its respective axle so as to readily slide over uneven surfaces. The shoes may be readily removed and replaced by wheels.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specic form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

l. A toy vehicle body comprising a base, a rst pair of wall members anchored to and extending upward from said base, a second pair of wall members detachably connected to and extending upward from said base, one member of said second pair being capable, when detached from said base, of bridging the first pair, means for interlocking said one member with said first pair to form a seat and reinforcement for said first said second pair bewith said one member extending upwardly pair, the other member of ing detachably connectible and, when so connected, from said one member.

2. A toy vehicle body comprising a base, opposite walls connected to and extending upward from said base, end walls detachably connected to and extending upward from said base and forming with said opposite walls a complete enclosure, means on said end walls for detachably connecting them together in angular relation in the form of a seat with a back rest extending upwardly therefrom, and means for detachably connecting the seat to said opposite walls.

3. A convertible toy vehicle body comprising a oor, side rails and end rails detachably connected to said floor, side and end walls detachably connected to and extending upward from said rails, means for detachably connecting one of said end walls in subtsantially horizontal relation to the tops of said side walls, and means for detachably connecting the other end wall in a substantially Vertical position to the rst end wall when said rst end wall is horizontally disposed, said other end wall in such event extending upwardly to form a back rest while the first end wallforms a seat, whereby, when all of the rails and walls are removed, the vehicle may serve as a lumber truck, when only the rails are attached, the vehicle may serve as a coaster wagon, when the walls also are attached, the vehicle may serve as a conventional utility wagon, and when one or both of said end walls are employed to provide seat structure, said vehicle may have a limited utility function.

4. A toy vehicle body comprising a base having generally vertical sockets along the periphery thereof, side and end walls having depending stakes detachably seated in said sockets and capable of being slipped out of and into said sockets, one of said walls having transverse end sockets, the stakes of the wall opposite said one wall being capable of slipping into and out of the last-mentioned sockets, one of the last two walls having opposite sockets, others of said walls being oppositely disposed, the socketed wall being capable of being slipped onto said opposite walls to position the upper ends of said opposite walls in the last-mentioned sockets, and also being capable of being slipped 'off said opposite walls, and means for detachably anchoring the socketed wall to said opposite walls.

5. A toy vehicle body comprising a base, a first pair of wall members anchored to and extending upward from said base, a second pair of wall members detachably connected to and extending upward from said base, one member of said second pair being capable, when detached from said base, of bridging the rst pair, means for interlocking said one member with said first pair to form a seat and reinforcement for said rst pair, the other member of said second pair being detachably connectible with said one member and, when so connected, extending upwardly from said one member.

6. A convertible toy vehicle body comprising a floor, upwardly extending side and end walls detachably connected to said floor, means for detachably connecting one of said end walls in substantially horizontal relation to the tops of said side walls, and means for detachably connecting the other end wall in a substantially vertical position to the rst end Wall when said first end wall is horizontally disposed, said other end wall in such event extending upwardly to form a back rest while the first end wall forms a seat, whereby, when all of the walls are removed, the vehicle may serve as a lumber truck, when the walls also are attached, the vehicle may serve as a conventional utility wagon, and when one or both of said end walls are employed to provide seat structure, said vehicle may have a limited utility function.

BENJAMIN F. LEBER. 

